PRESS RELEASE: Planet Dodge Chrysler Jeep / Ram Truck Brand Southern-Rock Artist Zac Brown Band Form Partnership Launches “Letters for Lyrics”

Ram Truck Brand and Southern-Rock Artist Zac Brown Band Form Partnership Launches “Letters for Lyrics” at Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram Truck dealerships with goal to deliver one million letters to U.S. soldiers in return for 1 million “Breaking Southern Ground” CDs Provides exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the band‟s USO Tour featured on RamTrucks.com Offers exclusive song download of latest single, “Free”
Auburn Hills, Mich. , Apr 16, 2010 -
The Ram Truck Brand today announced a partnership with GRAMMY-winning artists, Zac Brown Band to help honor U. S. soldiers as well as promote the band‟s USO Tour and their latest single.
Fueled by a Platinum major label debut, four #1 singles and numerous honors and accolades, including their GRAMMY win as "Best New Artist," "Top New Vocal Group" from the Academy of Country Music and "Breakthrough Video of the Year" from Country Music Television and USA Weekend – Zac Brown Band is poised to move front-and-center in 2010.
“Just as your vehicle is an extension of who you are – music also defines your inner character,” said Olivier Francois, Lead Marketing Executive, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band both strive to connect with people and have a unifying „can do‟ attitude and a character filled with authenticity, care, passion and pride.”
“We are excited about the new alignment with Zac Brown Band,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "It‟s the Grammy-award winning „Best New Artist‟ meets the 2010 Motor Trend „Truck of the Year.‟ It‟s a true win-win partnership for our customers, dealers and the Ram Truck Brand.”
"Performing with the USO for the men and women in uniform has been a great experience for us. We wanted to find a bigger way to thank them, a way to mobilize people nationwide to show their support for these incredible individuals," explains Zac Brown on how the "Letters for Lyrics" campaign came about. "Ram Truck Brand was the perfect partner to realize this dream; not only do they share our commitment to recognize the troops' service and sacrifice but they are determined to ensure this program helps to send a little piece of home to our service members abroad."
The partnership includes a letter-writing program to U.S. soldiers, exclusive documentary footage from the band‟s USO Tour and a song download of the band‟s latest single, “Free.”
Letters for Lyrics Campaign Starting in May, Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Band kick off “Letters for Lyrics,” a national campaign with a goal of sending 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world. Participants who write a letter to a U.S. soldier will receive a special compilation CD titled, “Breaking Southern Ground,” while supplies last. This exclusive CD features three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band, as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown‟s label, Southern Ground Records, Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.
Soldier‟s Angels, a nonprofit organization, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldier‟s Angels is a volunteer-led organization with over 225,000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families.
“We believe that „Letters for Lyrics‟ will spark the public‟s interest in contributing to our troops abroad and to their families here at home. This goodwill gesture embodies one of the main pillars in the Ram Truck Brand‟s DNA and demonstrates our continued support for the nation‟s men and women in the military,” said Diaz.
A 30-second "Letters for Lyrics" teaser spot, featuring the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band, will debut during the Academy of Country Music Awards, which airs live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 18, at 8 p. m. on the CBS Television Network.
USO Tour Documentary and Song Download on RamTrucks.com Viewers will be able to see behind-the-scene footage taped by the band as they document their April visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. Documentary-style segments and concert footage will premiere on RamTrucks.com and new episodes will be posted throughout the duration of the program.
An exclusive live version of the band‟s latest single, “Free,” will also be available for download for the first 100,000 fans, only at the RamTrucks.com web site. For each download, the Ram Truck Brand will make a donation to a designated charity on behalf of the brand and Zac Brown Band.
“The marketing and advertising launch for the Ram Heavy Duty is one of the most comprehensive programs developed for the Ram Truck Brand,” said Marissa Hunter, Head of Ram Truck Communication, Chrysler Group LLC. “The partnership with Zac Brown Band is just one element of the marketing and advertising launch of the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty truck, now available at Ram Truck dealerships nationwide.” About the Zac Brown Band Zac Brown Band were recently named GRAMMY's "Best New Artist" and are nominated for four Academy of Country Music Awards including "Entertainer of the Year." The band's platinum-certified, major label debut „The Foundation‟ - one of Billboard's Top 20 albums of 2009 - is out now on Atlantic Records and features the band's first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their "Breaking Southern
Ground" national tour, Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York's Citi Field. Additional information can be found at http://www.zacbrownband.com/.
About the Ram Truck Brand With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet. The Ram Truck brand will add to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks, Motor Trend's Truck of the Year. The new heavy-duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment. Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.‟s (SVI) 2009 Total Quality Index™ (TQI) in the full-size truck segment. According to the survey, the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers. The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a "new crew" of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis, and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.

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Dodge Pulls Skin Off 2010 Viper SRT10 Final Edition Models

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 6 -- To celebrate the final year of production for the current-generation Dodge Viper, Dodge is building a limited production run of just 50 2010 Viper SRT10 "Final Edition" models.

Available in Coupe, Roadster and ACR (American Club Racer) model configurations, each Final Edition Viper exterior features a Graphite Clear Coat body with a painted black center stripe traced in red. Viper Coupe and ACR Final Edition models include a black windshield surround. All Final Edition models carry unique side sill badges.

The black interior features custom red accent stitching, red painted halo surrounds on the gauge cluster and bright stainless steel screws in center stack bezel. A numbered dash plaque (1-50) is located on the shifter bezel just above the unique Viper Final Edition floor mats.

All Viper Final Edition Coupe and Roadster models will wear six-spoke wheels painted in Anthracite, while ACR models will come with five-spoke Sidewinder wheels in black.

The venerable 8.4-liter (510 cu. in.) V-10 engine remains the heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10. With 600 (450 kW) horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. (760 N*m) of torque, benchmark performance numbers, (including 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, quarter-mile time in the mid 11-second range, 0-100-0 mph in 11 seconds flat and a top speed of 202 mph) continue to prove how the serious, race-inspired, street-legal two-seater performs without apology.

This build of 50 Final Edition 2010 Dodge Vipers includes all three model configurations for the first time - 20 Coupes, 18 Roadsters and 12 ACRs. In 2002, a total of 360 Viper Final Edition Coupes (326) and ACRs (34) were built with Viper Red Clear Coat exterior and white stripes.

Production of the 2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition models is scheduled to begin in early summer.

Chrysler on track to break even on an operating basis in 2010

CEO Sergio Marchionne said that Chrysler Group holds more than $5 billion in cash and is on course to break even on an operating basis in 2010.

Marchionne was speaking at the National Automobile Dealers Association/IHS Global Insight Automotive Forum in New York before the city’s annual auto show. Marchionne serves as the chief executive of both Chrysler and Fiat S.p.A., which operates Chrysler. He added that the analysts’ estimate of the company’s breakeven point had been higher than its actual figure. Marchionne said that the company is producing cash and has continued to invest in the brand portfolio. He said that he feels “more comfortable” now than he did a year ago “by far.”

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

The Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the fastest vehicle in the Jeep lineup: a different kind of animal than what the brand is known for. Chrysler’s street racing engineers utilized four-wheel drive to enhance power as opposed to off-road handling, delivering a zero-to-sixty time under five seconds.

 

Special ground effects limit the SRT8 model to paved roads. I had difficulty backing out of my driveway without hitting the front fascia, designed to enhance airflow, on the apron. Twenty-inch forged aluminum wheels come with run-flat tires can run up to fifty miles with no air pressure on the highway. The tires eliminate weight from a spare, but are completely impractical off-road.

 

Having said that, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 fits most of the other squares active buyers need to fill. It can hold up to five passengers, has a large enough cargo area to hold a bicycle, and tows up to 3500 pounds, meeting our minimum ALV standards.

 

Best of all, the hot rod Grand Cherokee is a hoot to drive. While Jeep enthusiasts will immediately see differences in appearance between the stock Grand Cherokee and its SRT cousin, most drivers cannot. There’s nothing more fun than pulling up next to a pony car at a stoplight, and blowing it away off the line. I found the stunt so entertaining that I had to repeat it half a dozen times during my test drive.

 

Base price on the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is $43,325, not including a $780 destination charge.

 

Four hundred twenty horses smelling the barn

 

At the heart of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a 420-horsepower hemi engine. The engine produces peak torque of 420 foot pounds at 4800 rpm, giving it excellent acceleration off the line. A five-speed automatic transmission includes manual gear selection to add some fun on twisting roads.

 

A cat-back exhaust system that includes two, four-inch exhaust pipes helps to push air through the engine. The exhaust lets out a pleasing belch during hard acceleration: the car’s way of saying “thank you” for the 91-octane gasoline it requires.

 

Since the Grand Cherokee is engineered strictly for on-road use, the four-wheel drive system utilizes a single-speed transfer case. Four-wheel drive enhances vehicle performance on slippery roads by automatically sending engine power to the wheels with the best traction. The twenty-inch wheels and low-profile tires give the Grand Cherokee an exceptionally large, stable footprint.

 

The suspension is surprisingly refined, considering that the Grand Cherokee’s live rear axle. Monotube shock absorbers and large stabilizer bars on both axles keep the chassis flat in the corners. I took some decreasing radius turns at highway speeds, as well as on a two-lane road outside of town, and was impressed by how well the Grand Cherokee responded.

 

Steering feedback from the rack-and-pinion system is excellent. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 maintains positive on-center response at speed, while providing plenty of low-speed assist for maneuvering around parking lots. Its 37.1-foot turning radius is pretty good, considering the car’s long wheelbase.

 

Visibility is quite good to the front and sides. Over-the-shoulder visibility, in particular, is excellent. A rearview camera eliminates blind spots to the back of the vehicle, making it easier to parallel park. The rearview camera is part of an option package that also adds navigation, remote start, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a special instrument cluster with performance pages and adjustable pedals ($2045).

 

Seating for five passengers

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Interior

 

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Interior

 

The Grand Cherokee can hold up to five passengers, though legroom in the second-row center position is limited due to the center console. The SRT team installed heavily bolstered seats up front to keep the driver and passenger in place. Unfortunately, the seats have terrible lower lumbar support. I found it uncomfortable to sit in the car for more than an hour.

 

Adjustable pedals and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel allow smaller drivers to maintain a safe distance from the front airbag and a clear forward view. Two-position seat memory makes it easier for multiple drivers to share the car. The driver can access performance pages using steering wheel controls. They include quarter mile time, zero-to-sixty acceleration, and average fuel economy. I averaged 13.7 miles-per-gallon on the test drive: slightly higher than the EPA estimate.

 

Overhead reading lamps for both rows of passengers and a dome light in the cargo area illuminate the interior at night. All passengers have ample access to map pockets and cupholders. There are two, 12-volt power points in the center stack, and one in the cargo area. A 115-volt outlet behind the center console allows rear passengers to plug in games or a computer.

 

Second-row seats have enough head, leg and hip room for smaller adults, though legroom in the middle position is fairly limited. Passengers with limited mobility may have a hard time climbing in back, since the rear wheel arches impinge on the door opening.

 

An option on the test car adds an audio upgrade with a large subwoofer in the cargo area. The sound is great, but the component makes it harder to load in large cargo, especially bicycles.

 

Without the upgrade, the cargo area functions well for active lifestyles. The driver can open the rear glass separately for loading in smaller items. Lift-over height is pretty good for a SUV, making easier to load in large cargo. A small storage area under the cargo floor keeps valuables hidden from sight.

 

Standard safety

 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 comes standard with front, side and side curtain airbags, traction and electronic stability control. Four-piston Brembo brakes with four-channel antilock braking stop the car on a dime.

 

Chrysler’s five year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty includes 24-hour roadside assistance. Chrysler builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee at its Detroit, Michigan assembly plant.

 

Likes: A full-sized sport-utility vehicle with the handling and performance of a sport sedan, plus a spacious cargo area. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is bicycle friendly and can tow up to 3500 pounds, meeting our ALV minimum standards.

 

Dislikes: No off-road capability. Limited legroom in the middle, second-row seat.

 

Quick facts:

 

Make: Jeep

Model: Grand Cherokee SRT8

Year: 2010

Base price: $43,325

As tested: $49,295

Horsepower:  420 Hp @ 6200 rpm

Torque: 420 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

Zero-to-sixty: Under 5 seconds

Antilock brakes: Standard

Side curtain airbags: Standard

First aid kit: N/A

Bicycle friendly: Yes

Towing: Yes

Off-road: No

Fuel economy: 12/16 mpg city/highway

Comments: The manufacturer recommends the use of 91 octane fuel.

Chrysler Group LLC Displays Safety and Security Features in 2010 Chrysler Town & Country at the New York International Auto Show

NEW YORK, March 31 /PRNewswire/ --

* Chrysler Group offers the latest safety and security features to transport passengers and gear safely and securely
* Chrysler Group's exclusive Rear Cross Path and Blind-spot Monitoring assist drivers in safe lane changes and backing out of high-traffic parking situations
* New 'SafetyTec' package available in 2010 Chrysler Town & Country


Providing a safer environment for driver and passengers, Chrysler Group LLC is showcasing the company's available safety and security features in a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country visual display at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. Features such as multi-stage airbags, Chrysler Group's exclusive Rear-Cross Path (RCP) system and Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM) demonstrate the company's effort to continuously improve the overall performance of its products.

"Through a broad range of advanced safety and security systems, Chrysler Group is offering the latest technology to assist our customers in everyday driving situations," said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President – Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. "Both passive and active safety systems enhance the inherent security we design into all Chrysler, Ram Truck, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles."

Chrysler, Ram Truck, Jeep and Dodge vehicles employ a two-fold safety approach: conventional safety features, such as seatbelt pretensioning, constant-force seat-belt retractors (CFR), active head restraints and supplemental side-curtain air bags, combined with accident-avoidance features, including Smart Brake, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). In addition, security features, such as anti-theft alarms and Sentry Key® engine immobilizer, provide the utmost vehicle-theft protection.

New SafetyTec Package Surrounds Occupants With Segment-exclusive Active Safety Features

The 2010 Chrysler Town & Country delivers the minivan segment's highest levels of luxury and refinement, and now delivers segment-exclusive active safety features across the lineup with the new SafetyTec package. The new package raises the bar in the minivan segment with segment-first innovations including BSM and RCP accident-avoidance systems. Additional features include Parksense® rear-park assist, Parkview® rear back-up camera (available with Media Center™ 430 touchscreen radio), rain-sensing windshield wipers, mirrors with integrated turn-signal lamps and BSM/RCP indicators and an Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM). The new SafetyTec package will be available late spring on the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring, the new Touring "Plus," and standard on the Town & Country Limited.

The 2010 Chrysler Town & Country received the highest possible U.S. Government crash test rating of Five Stars in both front and side impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also rated the Chrysler Town & Country "Good" in Frontal Occupant Protection and "Good" in Side Occupant Protection -- highest rating possible.

The following safety and security features are in a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country visual display at the New York International Auto Show:

Active head restraints (AHR)
AHR move forward and upward in the event of a rearward, rear-end collision to decrease the space between the headrest and the occupant's head, thereby helping to reduce the chance of injury.

Air bags (multi-stage)
Regulates the amount of air bag necessary for the front passengers by crash severity.

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions.

Auto headlamps
Selectable headlight setting that uses a sensor to detect exterior light and turns on headlights automatically.

Auto-reverse windows or door
Automatically reverses the direction of a power window or door (to the down or open position) when an obstruction exists.

BeltAlert
Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver to buckle up if a vehicle is driven without being properly belted.

Brake assist
In a panic-brake condition, the system applies maximum braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance.

Brake/park interlock
Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied.

Child seat anchor system
ISOFIX is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats.

Child-protection rear-door locks
Disables the rear doors' inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face.

Constant-force Retractors (CFR)
Seat belt retractor senses vehicle impact and immediately applies a load to the seat belt in order to properly position the occupant before the full load of the vehicle impact is imparted onto the occupant. It then reduces the seat-belt load in order to moderate forces imparted onto the occupant during the impact event.

Door alert
Selectable feature that automatically flashes signal lights on the side of the vehicle in which a sliding door is opening (minivan).

Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
Adjusts braking pressure front to rear, based on weight distribution of passengers and cargo in order to minimize brake dive during hard braking.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the greatest benefit in critical driving situations such as turns, and is especially valuable when driving on mixed-surface conditions such as snow, ice or gravel. If there's a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering wheel and the vehicle's path, ESC applies selective braking and throttle input in order to guide the vehicle back onto the driver's intended path.

Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS)
Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on interior lighting, flashing hazard lamps and unlocking doors after air-bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine.

Height-adjustable seat belts
Allows occupants to raise and lower the shoulder belt. This system encourages seat-belt usage by offering a more comfortable fit.

High-intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
Provide approximately three times the light output of conventional reflector lamps for improved nighttime illumination.

HomeLink universal transceiver
Stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices.

Interior head-impact protection
Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel, including areas around the windshield and rear-window headers, roof and side-rail structures, and shoulder-belt turning loops specifically designed to limit head-impact force.

Knee bolsters
The lower instrument panel and the glove box door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work effectively.

Rain-sensing wipers
A driver convenience feature that automatically senses moisture on the windshield and activates wipers.

Rear-interior conversation mirror
A convex mirror located in the overhead console above the inside rearview mirror allows the driver to see rear-seat occupants without turning and looking back.

Seat-belt pretensioners
During a collision, impact sensors initiate front seat-belt pretensioners in order to immediately remove slack, thereby reducing the forward movement of occupants' heads and torsos.

Sentry Key® engine immobilizer
Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder, and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after a few seconds.

SmartBeam® headlamps
Intelligent headlamp system adjusts to ambient light and oncoming traffic in order to deliver maximum lighting.

Smart Brake
Chrysler Group began implementing the smart brake in 2003. When a disagreement exists between the throttle and the brake, the brake signal causes the engine controller to reduce engine power, allowing the operator to stop the car.

Supplemental side-curtain air bags
Extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers, including third-row outboard passengers in vehicles so equipped. The system includes sensors, adjacent to both front-and rear-seat occupants, which are calibrated to deploy the side airbag and curtain during impacts that require air bag occupant protection.

Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM)
Informs driver when tire pressure is too low. Pressure-sensor modules within valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system.

Traction Control System (TCS)
Helps to keep driving wheels from spinning during acceleration from a stop or during slow speeds by applying individual brakes alone or in combination with engine torque limitation to prevent wheel slip.

Uconnect™ Phone
In-vehicle, voice-activated communication system that allows you to talk on your Bluetooth compatible phone with your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The built-in phonebook sync feature automatically downloads as many as 1,000 phone book entries from supported phones, which can then be selected by simply saying their name.

Voice Command
Chrysler Group LLC's hands-free voice recognition system helps drivers keep their eyes on the road. Many features are operable using Voice Command®, including navigation destinations. Voice Command is standard with Uconnect Phone.